Friday, August 3, 2012

Wagner Music Festival

Summer
is a time for traveling, taking trips, and simply taking part in fun activities. One such popular activity is Summer Music
Festivals. Everywhere you look these
days there are outdoor concerts and festivals happening. One might think that this tradition is something
that recently came to be popular, but that is not the case. Music festivals were very popular during the
Clemens’ time, though the musicians and the music itself were quite a bit different
than what people are listening to today.
Instead of hip-hop or pop music, they were listening to classical
operas. On Friday,
July 31, 1891, the Clemens party started traveling to Bayreuth for the Wagner
festival, which they arrived at the next day, on August 1, 1891. This festival was a huge deal-- such a popular
event that the Clemenses had to reserve their tickets a year in advance.

This
festival was put on by Wagner’s widow, and included over 141 singers and an
orchestra almost 100 strong all performing Wagner’s incredible compositions in
his own home! This event was one of such
importance that the Hartford Courant reported on it. “At Bayreuth the rehearsals for the Wagner
festivals are now being pushed forward very actively. The actual performances will begin on Monday,
July 19, and will be on the usual monster scale which is so pleasing to the
devotees of the music of the future.
Thus no fewer than 141 singers will be employed, and there will be in
addition sixty-four ballet girls and dancers.
The orchestra, which is natural the exceedingly important factor in the
presentation of these music dramas, contains thirty-two violins, two violas,
twelve violincellos, eight bassos, five flutes, five oboes, five clarinets,
five flageolettes, two trumpets and cornets, four harps and two drums.” (Hartford
Courant, July 21, 1891).

This
festival was great fun for the Clemens family, because though Sam did not love
opera, everyone else in the family did, especially Susy and Clara. Sam was much more interested in the parties
and dining out in Bayreuth as opposed to the operas, being that he was more of
a spirituals man himself. Sam often left
the opera early so that he could secure good seats for the family at dinner, as
well as getting himself out of having to sit through the entire opera.

Though
the music may have changed, the sentiments and fun that are behind these events
still hold true. Going to see music of
any kind with family is fun, particularly if there is a party afterwards-- at least for Sam.

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We are located in Hartford, Connecticut, and celebrate the life of Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain). The home where he spent 17 years with his wife and daughters has been preserved as a testimony to his life and times.